BODHISATTVA

WHAT IS A BODHISATTVA

• A Bodhisattva is a mythological, celestial Buddha who takes a vow to continue to be reborn in to the cycle of samasara not only to fin d enlightenment for themselves but all other sentient beings. It is a completely selfless act. The word Bodhisattva directly translates in to 'enlightened being'. They are concerned with liberation for themselves and everyone else who wishes to attain Nirvana. They will postpone their own personal salvation in to the Dharma in order to save all sentient beings.
• BODHI = ENLIGHTENED
• SATVA = BEING
• A Bodhisattva is used as a skill in means for Mahayana Buddhism, it is considered too complex for Theravada. It replaces the Theravada idea of Arhat - a Bodhisattva is an embodiment of all the truths of Buddhahood. The vow is taken with the hopes that the Bodhisattva will follow the vow throughout this life and future lives until they reach enlightenment.

KARUNA

• Karuna means compassion and it is one of the most important qualities a Bodhisattva needs to adopt. Karuna is the idea of wanting to endlessly help all sentient beings. Through practicing Karuna, we realise the connection between the conventional truth and the ultimate truth.

PRAJNA

• Prajna means wisdom and this is the ultimate insight in to the Dharma. Wisdom needs to uphold compassion and therefore Karuna and Prajna come hand in hand. Wisdom is used to identify when someone is suffering, and through this we can realise the different levels of compassion. Wisdom balances your compassion. It can be used as a skill in means.
• Wisdom helps to realise the interconnectedness of all things.

THE BODHISATTVA VOW

• The Bodhisattva is a unique aspect of Mahayana, and a person will take a public vow which promises things like helping all sentient beings
• rid their sufferings even if it takes many lifetimes.
• The vow will often take place infront of a Mahayana master or simply in the presence of other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

BODHICITTA

• The Bodhicitta is known as 'the calling' and it is the motivation to help all others. The Bodhicitta literally means 'the mind of enlightenment' and the development of the Bodhicitta distinguished the bodhisattva from any other type of Buddhist practitioner.
• Compassion with the bodhicitta is placed in order to get rid of suffering and it is the basis of the bodhicitta. Wisdom with the bodhicitta is used to realise that empty nature (shunya) of all beings.

AVOLOKATESHVRA

• Avolokateshvra is known as the 'lord who looks down', and he is one of the most important and popular celestial Bodhisattva's. This is the Bodhisattva of infinite compassion. Avolokateshvra is regarded as the representative of karuna (compassion) and represents the quality of compassion in all beings. A practitioner will call upon or meditate on Avolokateshvra if they are trying to find compassion within themselves.
• Its important to remember that Avolokateshvra is a celestial Bodhisattva and therefor a myth - and should not be taken literally. Like all bodhisattva's, Avolokateshvra is used as a skill in means. It is said that Avolokateshvra made a promise that if he ever doubted that he could not help a suffering being, his head would shatter in to 1000 pieces.

THE THREE BODIED DOCTRINE

• The three bodied doctrine is a way of understanding the characteristics of buddhahood, the term body refers to the qualities of buddhahood. There are three bodies described in this doctrine; Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya, and Nirmankaya. These bodies can be related to the holy trinity in Christianity.
• DHARMAKAYA; (THE FATHER) - The body of truth, the enlightened mind that has grasped the true nature of all things. True nature of reality is the most important of the 3 bodies. Free from defilement and beyond distinction of pure and impure.
• SAMBHOGAKAYA; (THE SON) - Refers to physical and mystical aspects of the bodhisattva's. The body of enjoyment. Form of existence which lets advances beings communicate with Buddha's in a meditative state. This is a skill in means, through mythology and allegory it makes things more accessible.
• NIRMANKAYA; (THE HOLY SPIRIT) - Physical manifestation of and enlightened beings e.g. the historical Buddha. Buddhists can chose to take a physical form (bodhisattva's), in order to help all other beings.
• The three bodied doctrine incorporates celestial and human versions of the bodhisattva as a skill in means to reveal the true nature of reality. The doctrine further encourages and helps a Buddhist on the path to enlightenment.

THE SIX PARAMITTAS/PERFECTIONS

• The bodhisattva will embark on a career with the involvement of the six perfections. The 6 paramittas are also involved in the Bodhisattva vow.
• GENEROSITY - The bodhisattva will practice giving and giving equally to all beings in the spiritual sense.
• MORALITY - Lead the moral life by following the 8FP and 5 precepts. Encourage others to lead the ethical life, do not harm other beings
• PATIENCE - Practice patience in meditation, the Dharma and patience towards oneself and others.
• VIGOUR - Have boundless enthusiasm for the path and others along with mindfulness and alertness.
• MEDITATION - Meditate on the Dharma to reach and understanding of Buddhism/Buddhist philosophy. Meditation cools the ego.
• WISDOM - Arguably the most important perfection as it is the full insight in to the Dharma and leaving the rounds of rebirth. Wisdom upholds all of the perfections.

DISTINCTION BETWEEN M&T BUDDHISM

• THERAVADA - the school of elders. More traditionalist view of Buddhism, simpler form of Buddhism
• MAHAYANA - more complex notion of Buddhism. Known as the greater vehicle, involves many complexities such as skill in means. Mahayana is an umbrella term as it covers many different teachings and involves many different schools. It is characterized by diversity.

THE LOTUS SUTRA

• The Lotus Sutra is the claimed last words of the Buddha and is a key scripture in Mahayana Buddhism. It is the final revelations and messages that were revealed about the Buddha. The Lotus Sutra can back up the superiority of the Bodhisattva for example it states; "they reveal dharmas and their causes by employing various skillful means". This shows the bodhisattva has a different way of teaching the Dharma, however, the skill in means can only be revealed to the Dharma in one way - the greater vehicle. Mahayana Buddhists and bodhisattvas will reinforce that there is only one way to Buddhahood. "There is only one single vehicle. A second does not exist and there is no third anywhere in the world". This suggests that there is only one primary path to enlightenment and in order to achieve this you must follow the Mahayana path.
• The Lotus Sutra also states that; "five thousand conceited monks, nuns and laywomen, rose from their seats and left the assembly". This five thousand people are representatives of the people in the Theravada tradition. They leave the assembly as they do not wish to hear about the idea of Mahayana, although they do not reject it, they are happy with learning the lesser vehicle which is Theravada.
• All these sections in the Lotus Sutra help gain a further understanding and backs up the superiority of the bodhisattva path.

THE PARABLE OF THE BURNING HOUSE

• The parable of the burning house reveals a story of a father and his three sons inside a house which is 'on fire'. This story is a myth used as a skill in means to show the significance of the Mahayana tradition. It clearly shows the distinction between the lesser and greater vehicle. Throughout the story, there are different representations which show the significant features in the Buddhist tradition. In the myth, the house is a blaze and the father calls his sons to leave, however they are too ignorant to realise the house is on fire. There is only one single door in the house which the father tries to call his sons through. They still do not come, so he uses skill in means and tells the sons if they come through the door, they will be rewarded with brand new beautiful toys and carts. Immediatly, the boys stand up and leave the burning house through the single door.
• FATHER - BUDDHA
• HOUSE - SAMSARA
• DOOR - THERAVADA
• CHILDREN - IGNORANT BEINGS
• CARTS/FIRE - THE THREE FIRES
• This parable highlights the use of skill in means and it reveals to Buddhists the importance of the Mahayana tradition. By following the greater vehicle, you will become less ignorant to the realities of life. Getting the children out of the house is a representation of cooling down the three fires. By the children realising and accepting the house is on fire, they were rewarded with new carts. This is a metaphor for getting an insight in to the greater vehicle.

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